(PRN) FairTax Proposal Heats Up Presidential Politics/Iowa Straw Poll

PRNewswire-USNewswire

Published 5:15 pm, Tuesday, August 7, 2007

HOUSTON, Aug. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The FairTax, the national campaign to replace the income tax system with a non-regressive national sales tax, has been rocking the boat of presidential politics in early primary states across the nation. Two rallies at the upcoming Iowa Straw Poll are driving the point home to GOP candidates that the public "wants fundamental change," said Ken Hoagland of FairTax.org.

"We have seen 10,000-person rallies for the FairTax in Florida, South Carolina, and Georgia," said Hoagland, national communications director for the FairTax. "The issue is resonating with the public and causing presidential candidates to pay attention," he said.

"Five of eight GOP candidates have said they will sign the FairTax into law, if elected, and we have recently had some very positive conversations with Democratic candidates," Hoagland said.

"The income tax system is so universally despised, the FairTax is an issue that has the unusual potential to unite voters on the right, center, and left," he said. "It brings jobs, wealth, and manufacturing back to America, increases the available wealth of every income segment, broadens the taxpayer base, helps Social Security and Medicare funding, and eliminates the complexity of the current system," he said.

"Our grassroots supporters have been visible, vocal, and insistent at campaign stops throughout the country," said Hoagland. "Everyone knows the income tax system is badly broken, and people want to ask the candidates if they will go beyond the usual empty promises that 'something has to be done,'" said Hoagland.

"Voters are sick and tired of the usual class warfare tax arguments and proposals that only tinker with the existing tax code — which everyone knows will only further complicate the already indecipherable tax system," he said. "The public is ready for wholesale change and they are impatient with candidates who won't 'think big,'" said Hoagland.

"Both because of the best-seller The FairTax Book and because we are showing up across the country with rallies, bus tours, local events (and more than 500 talk shows in the last 11 months), people are aware that the FairTax has $20 million of research behind it, has more congressional co-sponsors than any other tax reform proposal in the past, and that it offers a simple, transparent, and fair alternative to the lobby-created income tax system," he said.

Hoagland said that FairTax.org will hold two rallies at the Iowa Straw Poll to further raise the issue's visibility. "We rally at 10:30 a.m. in Stephens Auditorium and at 2:00 p.m. in our FairTax tent," he said. "As with every real grassroots campaign, our strength is in the conviction of average Americans willing to stand up and be heard. Our supporters believe it is still possible for the public to drive public policy - even over the entrenched Washington interests defending the income tax system and distorting the FairTax," he said.